Showing posts with label new york. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new york. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

🌞 What is the first memory that comes to mind when you think of Summer on the Finger Lakes? 🌞

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty



A lot is expected of me when I am in the city. I wake up early, check messages, answer emails, take meetings, and spend the day trying to keep up with a growing list of demands. It feels like there is always one more thing to do and one more expectation to meet. By evening, I can feel the weight of it all. That is when I make my way to a quiet place by Canandaigua Lake. I hear the gentle lapping of water against the shore and feel the cool evening air on my skin as the sky fills with brilliant shades of gold, pink, purple, and blue. For a few moments, the noise of the day fades into the background.

Growth does not come from pushing harder every minute of every day. Sometimes it comes from creating space to think, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most. The simple action is stepping away from the constant pressure and giving myself permission to pause. The benefit is clarity, renewed energy, and the reminder that my worth is not measured by how much I accomplish before sunset. 

When life feels overwhelming, where is the place that helps you remember who you are?

🌞 Canandaigua Trail 🌞
Museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
For a relaxing moment in your cottage, please visit:

This piece would look best in a space that is red, orange, yellow, dark green, blue, purple, grey, black, white, beige or wood.


✨🖼️ EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND: Feel Something Real 🖼️ ✨

Free Admission • No Tickets Required

Missed the opening? Due to an incredible response, we are keeping the doors open for one more month. Pieces are already finding homes, so this is your final chance to see the full collection.

Experience bold color, movement, and energy up close. This is art that shifts your mood the moment you walk in. Are you going to catch it before your favorite piece disappears?

1210 Culver Road
Rochester, NY, 14609 United States
(585) 455-3356
I've added the full gallery hours and location details to the Facebook event here:
If you hit 'Interested' or 'Going,' Facebook will actually ping you a reminder before we close so you don't miss the final dates!


Can you find my artwork at 6x6x2026? 

Check out the global online preview to support local art at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo) and snag original pieces for only $20!

Find your next small masterpiece at: https://roco6x6.org/gallery/2026

I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html

I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mikekraus.bsky.social
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Wednesday, May 6, 2026

🌻😎🌊 Ready for sunflowers, lake views, and blue skies this Summer? 🌊😎🌻

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


There is something about Canandaigua Lake that slows everything down in the best possible way. The gentle light across the water, the quiet strength of the shoreline, the feeling that you can finally exhale and stay awhile. When life feels full and fast, this becomes your reminder to pause, breathe deeply, and reconnect with what matters most.

You do not need to travel hours to return to that peaceful shoreline. You can welcome it into your home and let it soften the edges of your day. If you have been craving a space that feels lighter, more grounded, and quietly inspiring, this is your invitation to claim it. 

Are you ready to bring the serenity of the lake into your everyday life?

🌻🌊 Canandaigua Lake Sunflowers 🌊🌻
Museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
For great memories, please visit:

This piece would look best in a small-to-medium space that is red, orange, dark yellow, dark green, dark blue, purple, grey, black, white, beige or wood.


✨🖼️ EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND: Feel Something Real 🖼️ ✨

Free Admission • No Tickets Required

Missed the opening? Due to an incredible response, we are keeping the doors open for one more month. Pieces are already finding homes, so this is your final chance to see the full collection.

Experience bold color, movement, and energy up close. This is art that shifts your mood the moment you walk in. Are you going to catch it before your favorite piece disappears?

1210 Culver Road
Rochester, NY, 14609 United States
(585) 455-3356
I've added the full gallery hours and location details to the Facebook event here:
If you hit 'Interested' or 'Going,' Facebook will actually ping you a reminder before we close so you don't miss the final dates!

I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
at No comments:

Monday, May 4, 2026

✨🖼️ EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND: Feel Something Real 🖼️ ✨

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Free Admission • No Tickets Required

Missed the opening? Due to an incredible response, we are keeping the doors open for one more month. Pieces are already finding homes, so this is your final chance to see the full collection.

Experience bold color, movement, and energy up close. This is art that shifts your mood the moment you walk in.

Are you going to catch it before your favorite piece disappears?

1210 Culver Road
Rochester, NY, 14609 United States
(585) 455-3356

I've added the full gallery hours and location details to the Facebook event here https://www.facebook.com/events/1711359370220258. If you hit 'Interested' or 'Going,' Facebook will actually ping you a reminder before we close so you don't miss the final dates!


I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
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Friday, May 1, 2026

💚 Join Me Today for Color and Energy! 💚

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


💚 I’m inviting you! 💚

Today Friday, May 1st, I'm welcoming you into two experiences built around the same idea: art that moves you. One is in-person, where you can see it, feel it, and connect face-to-face. The other is online, where creativity opens up to everyone, everywhere.

There is something we all run into. Life gets busy, attention gets pulled in a hundred directions, and before you know it, creativity becomes something you scroll past instead of something you feel. Art turns into background noise instead of a real moment. And when that happens, we lose that spark that reminds us why we love it in the first place.

So here’s the invitation. Come experience it up close.

Rochester Fine Art Market
TODAY May 1st, 2026
6pm-9pm
1210 Culver Road
Rochester, NY, 14609 United States
(585) 455-3356
bobwagnerrealestate@gmail.com

Join us for First Friday at Rochester Fine Art Market featuring my latest work. These paintings are all about bold color, movement, and organic forms that shift depending on how you stand, how you feel, and what you bring into the room. This is not just about seeing art on a wall. It is about stepping into it, meeting the energy physically, and sharing a space with people who feel that same pull toward creativity.

I have been creating art since I was a kid sketching in notebooks, through my time at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, to now painting full time for collectors around the world. At the center of all of it is one simple idea: art should make you feel something real. Joy, calm, curiosity, or even just a pause in the middle of a busy day.

That is what this night is about. You get to experience the work as it is meant to be seen, connect directly with me, meet other art lovers, and be part of a space where creativity is alive and shared. Whether you have been collecting for years or just want to explore something new, you will find something that speaks to you.

If you are anywhere near Rochester, make the time to come by. Bring a friend, walk through the gallery, start a conversation, and give yourself that reset that only art can offer.

I will be there and I would love to see you. 

Your Friend,
Mike Kraus
MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

P.S. If you cannot make it in-person, you are still part of this. Join the MayDay 2026 Online Art Festival OPEN NOW at: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtFestival

and celebrate creativity with artists and supporters from everywhere. Bring your art, your music, your voice, or just your presence. What will you bring to life?


I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
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Wednesday, April 15, 2026

🌞 What would it feel like to come home to this view every day? 🌞

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


A cool breeze comes off Seneca Lake as we walk the grounds of a winery. It feels good after a long drive with many stops at roadside stands, Amish farms, and a delicious lunch in Geneva, NY. We relax with a glass of wine, taking in the panoramic view of the lake. A sweet scent drifts through the vineyard as we saunter aimlessly. It is a good place to think about what would pair best with our meal later in Watkins Glen.

🌞 Seneca Lake 🌞
Museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
To enjoy more relaxation in your home, please visit:

This piece would look best in a space that is red, orange, dark yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, beige, or wood 

🇺🇸 For MayDay 2026, let’s celebrate Freedom in the most meaningful way we can by creating, sharing, and showing up for one another. Whether you are an artist, a maker, a performer, a vendor, or someone who simply loves to support creativity, you are an essential part of the experience. Bring your colors, your sounds, your ideas, and your energy, and step into a space where inspiration is shared and every contribution matters. Together we can fill the day with connection, creativity, and a spirit that reminds us how powerful it is to express, support, and lift each other up. 🇺🇸

🇺🇸 What will you bring to life? 🇺🇸

🌙 You're invited to a First Friday of color, energy, and connection 🌙

Join us May 1st from 6pm to 9pm at Rochester Fine Art Market for an evening featuring the vibrant and expressive work of Mike Kraus. His paintings are full of bold color, movement, and organic forms that are meant to be felt as much as seen. This is your chance to experience the work up close, meet the artist, and connect with a welcoming community of art lovers. Whether you are a longtime collector or just curious, it is an easy and inspiring way to step into something new.

What might you discover when you give yourself the space to look a little closer?


I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
at No comments:

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Join us for an exciting First Friday at Rochester Fine Art Market

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Join us for an exciting First Friday at Rochester Fine Art Market as we feature the vibrant and expressive work of Mike Kraus. Known for bold color, movement, and organic forms, Mike’s paintings bring energy and life into every space they enter. This is a chance to experience the work up close, connect with the artist, and be part of a night filled with creativity and community.

Mike has been creating art since childhood, from sketching in notebooks to studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and now painting full time for collectors around the world. His work is rooted in a simple idea that art should make you feel something real, whether that is joy, calm, curiosity, or a moment of pause in a busy day.

Come out for First Friday, explore the gallery, meet fellow art lovers, and enjoy a welcoming atmosphere where creativity is shared and celebrated. Whether you are a longtime collector or just curious, there is something here for you.

May 1st 6pm-9pm
Rochester Fine Art Market
1210 Culver Road
Rochester, NY 14609
(585) 451-8101


I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
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Friday, March 20, 2026

🌊 Where do you escape on the weekend to find serenity? 🌊

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Every time I sit by Canadice Lake, I can feel the cool mist brushing my skin and hear the gentle lap of water against the untouched shoreline. The air is rich with the scent of Linden trees and fresh earth, a quiet reminder that nature here remains unspoiled as homes and large boats are kept away. I watch a Bald Eagle glide effortlessly above, its talons snatching a Lake Trout in a sudden, breathtaking dive.

Experience the serenity of Canadice Lake every day and let its tranquility inspire your mind and refresh your spirit. Would you like to feel the whisper of the woods and the sparkle of the lake in your own space?

🌊 Canadice Lake 🌊
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202112112
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
To enjoy some relaxation, please visit: 

This piece would look best in a medium space that is red, orange, yellow, green, dark blue, purple, black, white, grey, or wood.


I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
at No comments:

Monday, February 23, 2026

🌻🌊 Where and when do you wish you could step back into your favorite summer? 🌊🌻

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


There is something about Canandaigua Lake that slows everything down in the best possible way. The gentle light across the water, the quiet strength of the shoreline, the feeling that you can finally exhale and stay awhile. When life feels full and fast, this becomes your reminder to pause, breathe deeply, and reconnect with what matters most.

You do not need to travel hours to return to that peaceful shoreline. You can welcome it into your home and let it soften the edges of your day. If you have been craving a space that feels lighter, more grounded, and quietly inspiring, this is your invitation to claim it. 

Are you ready to bring the serenity of the lake into your everyday life?

🌻🌊 Canandaigua Lake Sunflowers 🌊🌻
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202108068
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

This piece would look best in a small-to-medium space that is red, orange, dark yellow, dark green, dark blue, purple, grey, black, white, beige or wood.


I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
at No comments:

Friday, February 20, 2026

🍁 What memory would this bring back for you? 🍁

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


There is a moment in autumn at Letchworth State Park when the air feels sharper, the colors feel louder, and everything seems more alive. I remember standing beneath branches glowing red against a wide blue sky, looking out over hills washed in gold and ember, feeling that quiet rush of being exactly where I was meant to be. It is the kind of place that clears your head without you even trying. No noise. No rush. Just space to breathe and reset.

Do you crave that feeling but cannot always get away? When life feels crowded or fast, this brings you back to steady ground and open sky. It adds warmth, depth, and a sense of calm strength to a room, especially as the seasons begin to shift. If you have been thinking about refreshing your space or bringing more color and energy into your home, this is a beautiful time to do it. 

Can you imagine having this kind of autumn clarity waiting for you every single day?

🍁 Autumn Above the Gorge (Letchworth State Park) 🍁
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202110089
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc
To add color to your home, please visit:

This piece would look best in a small-to-medium space that is dark red, yellow, green, dark navy blue, purple, black, white, grey, beige, or wood.


I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
at 1 comment:

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

🌊🍷 Would you enjoy waking up to this view every morning? 🍷🌊

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


There is something about Canandaigua Lake that slows everything down in the best possible way. The gentle light across the water, the quiet strength of the shoreline, the feeling that you can finally exhale and stay awhile. I created this piece to bring that same calm and clarity into your space so you can experience that steady sense of balance every single day. When life feels full and fast, this becomes your reminder to pause, breathe deeply, and reconnect with what matters most.

You do not need to travel hours to return to that peaceful shoreline. You can welcome it into your home and let it soften the edges of your day. If you have been craving a space that feels lighter, more grounded, and quietly inspiring, this is your invitation to claim it. 

Are you ready to bring the serenity of the lake into your everyday life?

🌊🍷 Vineyard On Canandaigua Lake 🍷🌊
Museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
To enjoy a perfect day on the lake, please visit:

I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
at 1 comment:

Monday, February 16, 2026

🌊🍁 What if your home could feel like standing beside a waterfall? 🍁🌊

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty



I remember standing at Pixley Falls State Park in the height of autumn, surrounded by trees that felt almost unreal in their intensity. The oranges and golds were bold and alive, yet the steady rush of the waterfall brought everything back to center. I felt both energized and grounded at the same time, like the world could be vibrant without being overwhelming.

That is the feeling I return to when life feels noisy or rushed. The scene reminds me that strength can be calm and color can coexist with stillness. 

If your days feel full and fast, where could you create a space that brings you back to that kind of balance?

🌊🍁 Pixley Falls 🍁🌊
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202110092
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
To bring nature into your space, please visit: 

This painting would look best in a small-to-medium space that is dark red, dark orange, light yellow, green, blue. purple, black, white, beige, or wood.


I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
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Saturday, December 20, 2025

🎁 Forgot a gift and need something now? 🎁

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


💿 Instant Art To Download! 💿
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
To purchase, please visit: 

OOPS! While wrapping gifts, you realize you forgot someone. Or a package was delayed or never arrived. No worries. In just minutes, you can instantly download from over 300 artwork options and print something beautiful at home. Add an image to a frame, create unique gift tags, use it as a virtual background for a holiday gathering, or turn it into a thoughtful card that simply says "Happy Holidays!" No waiting and no shipping stress. Just an instant gift and a small but meaningful way to show someone you care.

To view options, please visit: 

With shipping deadlines behind us, we’re hosting the

❄️⛄️ Upstate New York (NY) Last Minute Holiday Art Festival ⛄️❄️


an online celebration where customers can find one-of-a-kind, locally made gifts and pick them up right from the artist.

Let’s make this a joyful, creative, high-energy holiday push for Upstate makers. Come be part of it!

My Story
Hi, I’m Mike the artist of Mike Kraus Art Inc.

I’ve been making art since I could hold a crayon. As a kid, I’d fill every notebook, homework margin, and scrap of paper with doodles. I sold my first artwork in junior high, sketching in class and handing off pieces between periods. That early love for making things never faded. I followed it all the way to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and eventually, I decided to stop treating art as a side hustle and make it my life’s work.

My paintings are full of energy, motion, and saturated color. I’m drawn to bold shapes and organic lines—forms that feel alive. I create with the hope that my work brings something beautiful and uplifting into someone’s day. Whether it’s a spark of joy, a moment of calm, or just a splash of color that makes you pause—I want my art to connect with something real.

Now, I’m lucky enough to paint full-time, with collectors across the U.S. and in dozens of countries around the world. But more than anything, I still feel like that kid with a crayon, excited to create. I’m grateful to share this journey with you—and I hope you find something in my work that makes your world a little brighter.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

at No comments:

Monday, December 15, 2025

🍁 Do you ever look at a familiar view and wonder what it looked like long ago? 🍁

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


🍁 Autumn-On the Hudson River #604 🍁
pen, ink, and colored pencil on Bristol paper
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202512070
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
To purchase for your collection, please visit:

Standing at the curve of the road with the hum of traffic in my ears and the faint mineral smell of fuel drifting from the giant white tanks, I tried to imagine what Jasper Cropsey once saw from this very hillside when autumn wrapped the Hudson River in blazing reds and golds. His painting held a wandering stream and hunters pausing in a sunlit meadow while sheep grazed in soft quiet, but now the sky is laced with power lines and Storm King Mountain across the water glows only where the sun manages to slip between thick cables. Even so, in the flash of blue water beyond the fence and the burst of color in the trees by the roadside, there is still a whisper of that older world, a reminder that the river keeps outlasting whatever we build beside it.
Do you ever stand in a familiar place and try to picture what it looked like before people reshaped it?

Still searching for the perfect holiday gift?

❄️☃️ LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY ART FESTIVAL ☃️❄️

is here to help you find something truly special just in time. Join us for a festive online marketplace filled with creativity, community, and cheer at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1288257772795315

My Story
Hi, I’m Mike the artist of Mike Kraus Art Inc.

I’ve been making art since I could hold a crayon. As a kid, I’d fill every notebook, homework margin, and scrap of paper with doodles. I sold my first artwork in junior high, sketching in class and handing off pieces between periods. That early love for making things never faded. I followed it all the way to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and eventually, I decided to stop treating art as a side hustle and make it my life’s work.

My paintings are full of energy, motion, and saturated color. I’m drawn to bold shapes and organic lines—forms that feel alive. I create with the hope that my work brings something beautiful and uplifting into someone’s day. Whether it’s a spark of joy, a moment of calm, or just a splash of color that makes you pause—I want my art to connect with something real.

Now, I’m lucky enough to paint full-time, with collectors across the U.S. and in dozens of countries around the world. But more than anything, I still feel like that kid with a crayon, excited to create. I’m grateful to share this journey with you—and I hope you find something in my work that makes your world a little brighter.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
at No comments:
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